With all the things we hear about when to water our plants or how much sun they should be getting, we tend to forget one crucial element in gardening – and that’s soil health! Soil itself is so important for plants to thrive. Think of it as their home. They wouldn’t live happily and healthily if that home was dark and gloomy. They need a nourishing environment to do so!
The same can be said for indoor plants and outdoor plants alike. Just because you’re planting your azaleas outside on your garden soil doesn’t guarantee that it will grow as intended. Some factors affect growth – and we’ll get to those right here.
What Is Soil Health
Starting things off with the right question: What is soil health?
Soil health is the capacity of soil to support the growth of plants and animals. Soil is a complex, living ecosystem. It’s more than just the dirt you see outside. Soil health factors in many things like how well it drains, its texture and moisture, and even the organisms around it.
As one might expect, unhealthy soil looks like it’s riddled with pests. Unhealthy soil can also look hard and crusty as well as show signs of mould. There are many ways to combat these, and you have to actively adjust to see how you can improve soil health in and around your garden if you really want to.
If you want to know how to test soil health at home, then it’s all in using your senses. Unhealthy soil tends to have a foul odour. Discolouration around your soil is also one of the signs of unhealthy soil. If it seems off, it likely is. Healthy soil shouldn’t look worrying. Other tests can always be done, but your inspection should always come first. You’d be surprised at how obvious some of the signs are, making them easy to spot and find solutions for.
How To Improve Soil Health
Check Your Soil Regularly
As one might expect, keeping a close eye on your soil should be a priority. You can also opt to test your soil for pH, nutrients, and organic matter. A professional would be happy to help you with all of these or you can purchase kits online. We’re sure many folks would be glad to help and give advice on keeping your soil healthy. The locals know their stuff!
Add Some Organic Material
Adding organic matter, such as compost, leaf mould, or aged manure, is one of the most effective ways to improve soil health. You can compost a lot of your kitchen scraps (think fruits, veggies, and even coffee grounds). After which you just let time do the rest. Once those scraps have decomposed, then you can mix said compost to fertilise your garden beds.
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
Mulch can be either organic or inorganic and both can easily be found and bought online or at your local store. Mulch helps the soil retain moisture, regulate temperature, and may even prevent some weeds from growing. Also, mulch can decompose over time – meaning it can add nutrients back into your soil.
Aerate the Soil
If soil is too compact, it can prevent water and air from flowing and reaching your plants’ roots. Yes, even the roots need some form of air. A lawn aerator or simple fork (even a pair of takeaway chopsticks!) can help aerate your soil. Just poke around, making sure you avoid damaging any established root systems.
Chemicals, Away!
We understand that some circumstances require certain chemicals like pesticides when gardening. After all, we’re just trying to minimise damage to our plants. Whenever possible, try avoiding chemical pesticides and the like. Not only will they do direct damage, but they may also even disrupt the ecosystem around them. Think about your pesticides coming into contact with water, which in turn may help spread the chemicals. We wouldn’t want that!
Crop Rotation
No matter how beautiful your garden beds look right now, you may want to consider rotating your crops and plants every now and again. Rotating plants that have different nutrient needs allows the soil to recover between growing seasons. It could also prevent pests from taking over a certain spot in your garden.
Conclusion
Bloombox Club always has you and your plants’ best interests in mind. That said, we strive to provide you with the tools you may require to keep your gardens looking good. Shop around and see what you fancy!
